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A colorful dinner topped with pickled red cabbage.
Sacha Hirschfeld

Pickled Red Cabbage (Easy Fridge Pickle)

This lightly pickled red cabbage is working double-duty as both a condiment and side. This simple pickle is crunchy to the max, packed with big flavor, and flexible with add-ins; the poster child of low-maintenance, cool cooking! Enjoy alongside pork tenderloin (as pictured), piled on top of burgers, tacos, salad bowls, or simply in place of a pickle. Basically, you can eat this with EVERYTHING!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Chill Time In The Fridge 4 days
Total Time 4 days 40 minutes
Servings: 10
Course: Pickles, Sides
Cuisine: American
Calories: 36
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup kosher salt
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 500 g red cabbage about ½ a large cabbage; core removed and thinly sliced
  • 1 beet small size; peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 1 jalapeño pepper sliced; optional
  • 4 garlic cloves smashed
  • fresh dill a few large sprigs
  • 1 tsp celery seed
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard seed

Equipment

  • 1 medium saucepan
  • large mason or pickle jar I use a 2 quart glass jar
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 vegetable peeler

Method
 

  1. Add water, apple cider vinegar, kosher salt, and sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat; stir until kosher salt and sugar are dissolved.
  2. Use either a large 2 quart jar (like me) or two 1 quart jars. Arrange red cabbage, beet, jalapeno, garlic, dill, celery seed, and mustard seed in layers.
  3. Remove the brine from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Pour the brine over-top of the packed glass jar, ensuring all the cabbage is covered by brine.
    An open jar of red cabbage, dill, and brine all ready for the fridge.
  4. Leave on the counter for an hour to completely cool, then transfer to the fridge. Allow the jar to sit in the fridge for 4-5 days before opening. This pickled red cabbage will keep in the fridge for 1 month, although I doubt it will last that long!
    A large jar of freshly-made pickled red cabbage.

Notes

ADD IN IDEAS 
  • Caraway seed
  • Cumin seed
  • Fennel seed
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Whole peppercorns
  • more sugar 
  • Sliced red or white onion
  • Sliced celery
  • Sliced apple